… is in getting it to show up in a picture. My new skirt looks completely boringly plain in these pictures, which just proves it; the camera does lie! Actually it has a rather beautiful lace appliquéd tulle overlay. I guess I just fail at photography.
The appliquéd tulle came from the remnants table at Fabulous Fabrics and is so lovely that I was helpless to resist it when I saw it there. Then again, I rarely do. My relationship with the remnants table is somewhat akin to that of a vulture to a carcass, ahem.
Anyway, there’s not much else to say about the skirt except that it is fulfilling a desire for a black lace skirt that I have had for a loooooong time! so it’s kind of funny to me that it’s taken me this long to realise that desire. I think I’m generally more of a whimsical seamster than a methodical or practical one, although I try very hard to be the latter.
It’s actually a very comfortable skirt. The appliqued tulle is underlined with a black rayon crepe, a quite heavy and substantial fabric; both fabrics are quite crease-resistant too which also makes it almost… practical? dare I claim that for a lace thing! 🙂 and I lined the skirt with black polyacetate lining fabric. All fabrics are from Fabulous Fabrics.
I used Vogue 8363, one of my favourite skirt patterns. I say; “one of the favourites” meaning like top five material, easily. I’ve just counted and I’ve made eight skirts from it! not too shabby if I say so myself, not too shabby. This pattern is a terrific one; with lots of variations and different views. This skirt is a version that isn’t any one particular view, but I used the pattern pieces that gave me those lovely and very deep, front slanted pockets, an un-pleated one piece front and a back with CB zip.
I aligned the lace motifs to match each other up around the skirt and at the CB seam as best as I could, and used up all of my remnant bar a couple of scraps. Yay!
I cut the lining using spliced together Vogue 1247, cut longer so it sits just 2.5cm shorter than the skirt.
Details:
Skirt; Vogue 8363 lined, black lace and black rayon crepe, my review of this pattern here
Shirt; Burda 7767 modified, of dk olive linen, details here and my review of this pattern here
Also I have been doing a tiny amount of unselfish sewing… I made a caramel-coloured merino wool top for Cassie, using fabric we bought in Melbourne’s the Fabric Store during our last girly trip away. I used a pattern that I have custom-fit to Cassie; based upon my own custom-fit Tshirt pattern; itself originally based upon a Burdastyle Tshirt top, the details of my “custom-fitting saga” here. I thought I had lost my own pattern, which was a pretty heartbreaking state of affairs, but I recently found it again. I had just stuffed it into the wrong pattern envelope, seems so obvious now but still I could have wept for joy when I discovered it. I’d been thinking hmmm, really should get onto properly fitting that Tshirt pattern again, but it just seemed insurmountably difficult so I’d kept putting it off. Plus it’s winter, and too cold for all that, too.
Anyway, I found it!
The Tshirt does look a whole tonne better on an actual person with arms, however its intended person had to suddenly hurry away for an important social engagement and I was too impatient to wait for her to return to perform modelling duties. It has long sleeves, a scooped neckline finished with a folded band as described in my tutorial here, and with sleeve and hems finished with my twin needle. There was an awkwardly small piece of merino left over which was too small for anything on its own but too big and too nice a fabric to throw away. So I cut the ends square and straight and now it is a scarf.
I might borrow the scarf occasionally 😉
Beautiful skirt! A black lace skirt is always so elegant. I completely understand your love is remnants! I have a stash full of them. The top you made is gorgeous as well! I can never get my neckline to lay as flat as yours.
Uhhh what a beautiful lace fabric! The skirt look fabulous on you and I just love that you see the lace details only on second sight! I need a skirt like this, thank you for inspiring me!
I like the top too, looks comfortable but classy! Hope Cassie enjoys it!
Love the skirt paired with the olive shirt. Lovely camel merino!
What a gorgeous skirt! I love it paired with the khaki shirt.
Love your black lace skirt! I'm like that with fabric,sometimes you just must have it. And its practical, it has pockets after all.
Beautiful skirt! Love how practical it ends up being. Looks great paired with your linen shirt!
The skirt is so lovely! I am so nervous about sewing with lace – I don't know where to start! Thanks for the inspiration!
thank you Anna! My advice, lace just seems scary but is so lovely it's well worth the effort; just go for it 🙂
What an absolutely gorgeous lace skirt and perfect with the military-type shirt you are wearing here!! You were oh-so-right in grabbing that oh-so-beautiful piece of lace, then thoughtfully placing the lace motifs in your skirt design, creating a most-beautiful skirt. Cassie's top is so pretty and she will look lovely in that color. btw, I'd borrow that scarf too….. and I will never look at a remnant table the same again! 🙂
You may not want to do this. When you want to photograph a black dog (or any other black furred critter) you lightly powder their fur so there is more contrast. So maybe if you slip some white organza between the lace and the lining it will bring out the pattern? Just for photographing. I can't imagine powdering the skirt.
It's really elegant and looks great on you.
thanks for the advice Theresa! I did not know that trick, it sounds like a good one. I found in long shots, when the black lace was just one component of the picture competing with other colours, it just became a featureless black shape; but when i photographed the skirt in close-up, as in the 2nd picture, the lack of anything "not black" in the frame seemed to trick the camera into showing up the lace details perfectly well. It seems to be a matter of tricking the camera into "seeing" black details within the black. 🙂
When known, you can see the lace by enlarging the fotos. The detailed pics are nicely showing the beautiful lace. How wonderful is this feminine skirt! And practical when no creases! Combined with this more masculin shirt, you are able to wear it at any occasion. How good you found your shirt pattern! Cassie is surely very happy to get such luxurious clothes made by you! 🙂
You see loads of frothy tulle skirts on Pinterest and I've always figured that me and tulle would never meet up until I saw a cool motojacket type garment constructed with this material and some overlay (or perhaps you could call it applique). Great black skirt – and the t-shirt looks great as well. Love the colour of your shirt – is it 'taupe'?
Thank you Shelley; my shirt is a deep olive, or "army" green
Stunning skirt, the lace is just beautiful. I really love the tops, too, your sewing always so amazing.
Love your lace- it's not too serious or old fashioned- a thoroughly modern choice. Good find at the remnants table. LOL-"vulture", ha ha! I think that is a good description for it. Some of those bins or tables are like a feeding frenzy.
thank you so much, SkinnyBCurvyC! 🙂
Your skirt is pure eye candy!
I understand your love affair with the remnants table, because I have one too :). Your skirt is divine and Cassie's top looks so comfortable and elegant, I'll bet it goes into constant rotation.
Beautiful skirt! I love it paired with the drab green blouse.
Another winning outfit. I would not have expected a lace skirt to have looked so fabulously wearable but this makes it so.
I love a black lace skirt even though they are not entirely practical. Yours is really pretty and looks equally good teamed with a casual shirt
Yes, black is very hard to photograph but the 2nd photo does provide a good image of the lace. Beautiful skirt!
You found a beautiful fabric for your skirt. I love your new skirt, so classic and elegant 🙂 Great work on the neckline.
Nice skirt, I use a pattern similar to that with pockets again and again, I LOVE the finish on your neckline, I am still practising with jersey necklines. Jo x
A practical lace skirt?! The very idea is fabulous, and your skirt does look absolutely fab!
Glad you found your t-shirt pattern again. 🙂 I wish I had ready access to merino jersey…
Gorgeous black skirt, and the delicate lace detail looks very nice. Lovely top for Cassie, the colour and fabric are ooh want!